Raila Affirms Political Commitment to Ruto in Personal Letter

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has reaffirmed his commitment to a political partnership with President William Ruto through a personal letter dated March 3, 2025.

The letter, obtained by a local newspaper and stamped received on March 4, has paved the way for a formal alliance between Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration, formalized on March 8 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.

This unexpected collaboration between two former rivals has sparked both optimism and controversy as Kenya grapples with economic challenges and the lingering wounds of recent unrest.

The letter reveals Odinga’s gratitude for Ruto’s extensive support during his unsuccessful bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship, which ended in defeat to Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on February 15.

Odinga highlights Ruto’s personal lobbying of African heads of state, alongside the deployment of top officials like Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Intelligence Service Director General Noordin Haji, as evidence of the president’s commitment.

“Your early and enthusiastic support and encouragement for my candidature propelled me forward,” Odinga writes, adding, “The moral and material support that you offered me left no doubt about your belief in my candidacy.”

Rather than framing the AUC loss as a setback, Odinga casts it as a unifying moment, pledging his “total support” to Ruto’s leadership within the AUC and beyond.

“Together, we can steer Kenya toward a future of unity and progress,” he states, signaling a bold intent to heal a nation still reeling from the violent tax protests of June 2024 and the divisive 2022 presidential election that pitted the two leaders against each other.

The partnership was cemented with the signing of the Kenya Kwanza-ODM Framework Agreement, attended by MPs and key officials, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

The 10-point plan outlines priorities such as tackling youth unemployment, auditing national debt—currently nearing 10 trillion shillings—and promoting inclusivity in governance.

Speaking at a funeral service in Trans Nzoia County on March 7, Ruto emphasized that the pact is not about power-sharing or the 2027 elections but about fostering unity for Kenya’s social, economic, and political transformation.

“I called Raila and told him: You have been my party leader, and today, by God’s grace, I am president. I want you to be treated well,” Ruto said, praising Odinga’s selflessness.

However, the alliance has not been without controversy.

Critics, including opposition figure Kalonzo Musyoka, have accused Ruto of diplomatic missteps in the AUC campaign and question Odinga’s motives, with some suggesting he may be softening the ground for Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid.

Odinga’s base, particularly in Nyanza and urban centers, has bristled at the idea of supporting a former adversary, while Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition fears a dilution of its agenda.

In response, Odinga has defended the pact, stating at a Kiambu County burial, “I did not go to Ruto; it is Ruto who came to me.”

The partnership leverages Odinga’s enduring grassroots influence—honed through decades of political adaptability, from his 2001 alliance with Daniel arap Moi to the 2018 handshake with Uhuru Kenyatta—to bolster Ruto’s administration amid mounting pressures like inflation and a restless Gen Z population.

Yet, the stakes are high. With Kenya facing a debt crisis and unmet promises of jobs and relief, the Ruto-Odinga pact must deliver tangible results to sustain public faith.

As the ghosts of past election violence linger, this alliance’s success—or failure—could define Kenya’s trajectory for years to come.